Alison Sweeney is on the cover and she talks about body image, life without Days of Our Lives, The Biggest Loser and the insecurity she feels from the contestants, her favorite workouts and how she is trying be a strong example for her daughter.

So what else is inside the March Health?

“Yoga at Your Desk”

Health magazine’s Kristin McGee shows off a few yoga moves you can do at your desk to try and keep your alignment in check. It’s tough with all of the sitting most us do but the “Cow Face Arms” will be one of my new daily moves.

“30 Days to a Toned Stomach”

Tracy Anderson (who teaches at a SoHo studio that is so exclusive they will NOT sell single-class passes) has created these four alternatives to the basic plank move to get your core toned.

“Walk This Way”

I loved the cues here on how to get proper workout with your power walk. I tend to hold my arms too close and should swing them a bit more using my core to stabilize.

“Just Right Jackets”

Is it Spring yet? Because I am so damn tired of wearing my parka every single day and looking at these bright jackets is giving me an intense sense of longing.

And now the rest of the best of this issue of Health:

“Your Fat: A User’s Manual” Perhaps one of THE most misunderstood parts of the human body is fat. HallieLevine dissects what there is to love and loathe it.

“7 Surprising Secrets to Eating Out Healthy” Good tips here on how to eat out and stay on a healthy path.

“That Pill Can Do What?” New uses for over-the-counter meds that will help what ails you from headaches to muscle soreness to dandruff.

Fit Bottomed Eats “Power Ball for Runners” Recipe: I am lucky enough to be friendly with the amazing dietician Frances Largeman-Roth who sits in the front of my spin class every Sunday morning. (Love my first-row achievers!) Frances contributes this yummy Pre-Workout Powerballs recipe to another Blog I write for—Fit Bottomed Eats. What’s really great about her recipe (if you are a mom) is that they “dairy and nut-free—they pass the school test!”

Men’s Journal Talks About the Dangers of Sitting: Almost ten years ago I quit corporate life to work for myself which I assumed would make me healthier but without the travel of the commute every day—in reality, I was sitting even more hours in a row than at a formal office. At first I switched to a standing desk which for sure is helpful but doesn’t challenge my core to be stronger and it made my posture even worse as I just leaned into my laptop. My friend and fitness guru Elizabeth Pongo recommended I try a wobble board to challenge my sense of balance whenever I work at my desk. Wow—what a difference it makes!

(Elizabeth is one of the experts quoted in this excellent feature in Men’s Journal article all about the health risks of sitting and what you can do to counterbalance them. Good stuff!)

I am not sure if you all have heard but Meredith Publishing bought Shape magazine so Fitness starting in May will be digital-only. That means this will be the next-to-the last issue of Fitness reviewed on this Blog. This is a sad day but let’s be grateful that we will still get new content from the editors in the future—it will just be online.

Fitness has a whole page here filled with cute gear that gets me excited for Spring. The Cole Haan slippers are especially divine!

“Go Vertical”

If you are looking to kick up your workout—try taking the stairs. Here we get two options (staircase vs. stairclimber) to get in a quick workout that gives fast results from Chris Powell.

“In the Hot Seat”

Four years ago I attempted a big change in my life by working at a standing desk (plus my wobble board to work on my core!) Sitting for hours a day is KILLING us and we need to act now in order to prepare office workers in the future.

Check out some of these options to make your office healthier!

And now the rest of this issue of Fitness:

“Fake Wide Awake” I love lotions and potions and lately my skin has been looking dull so I liked this feature offering ideas to brighten my face.

“Get a Fierce Physique” Trainer and author Adam Rosante offers an excellent workout here that you can do very quickly and see results in no time.

Overall Grade:

B+ Some really great workouts are featured here (just wish they had more features!)

You can enter to win a copy of this book! Keep reading to find out how.

Hey there! Hi there! Ho there!

How are you all doing? I know it has been ages since we have seen each other but it seems as if my desire to have a “drama-free 2015” is a little off base as my sweet cat T is ill and I have been worried about taking proper care of her. I detailed it in a post last week but she has had behavior/neurological issues that we are treating with anti-anxiety medicine and she is responding well so far. At the four-week (Feb 28th) we will know better how she is doing. Keep her in your thoughts!

Anyway—it is FREEZING in the city right now so I am keeping myself busy indoors which includes getting back into the Blogging and Vlogging world and I have tons to discuss—so let’s get to it shall we?

Fit Bottomed Girls “Love Yo’ Self” Playlist: I know that Valentine’s Day has come and gone but that doesn’t mean you do not have permission to demonstrate a little self-love and care throughout the year! I wrote this “Love Yo’ Self” playlist for Fit Bottomed Girls to give you all a little musical inspiration to do just that whenever you need a boost. So put some of those tunes on your player and have fun!

How to Keep Your Gym Clothes Stink-Free: My good friend Brandi asked me and a few fellow blogger pals our favorite tips for keeping gym things stink-free and you can read about it here! (TapGenes.com)

YogaLean Book Giveaway: The giveaways are back and this one is pretty amazing (I must say!) Beth Shaw (President & Founder of YogaFit) has a book out called YogaLean that is filled with yoga poses and yummy recipes to help you lose weight, tone up and live your healthiest life possible. (Follow them at YogaLean) This giveaway is only open to the Continental U.S. so—sorry Canada, Alaska and Hawaii residents! Details in the Vlog below.

Now on to this week’s Vlog and giveaway details (forgive me but I conflated like Brian Williams and mixed up the number for my Vlog. This is #108 for sure!)

More Information about the YogaLean Giveaway:

YOGALEAN

Poses and Recipes to Promote Weight Loss and Vitality-for Life!

By

Beth Shaw

Fitness guru and founder of the YogaFit training program Beth Shaw shares her revolutionary approach to better health in YOGALEAN: Poses and Recipes to Promote Weight Loss and Vitality-for Life! (Ballantine Books.) Beth shows readers both how to achieve and maintain their optimum weight by developing what she calls a Lean Consciousness. The ultimate path to whole-life wellness, Lean Consciousness is uniquely designed to work from the inside out, taking into account every reader’s size and shape, and customizing a program that fits with their personal goals.

Easy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks that will help you burn fat more efficiently

Stress-reducing and clarity-enhancing daily meditations

A one-week jumpstart plan outlining precisely what to eat and how to exercise your body and mind

As the creator of the largest yoga school in North America, Beth has helped thousands of people get in shape and sustain a healthy weight. YOGALEAN combines those years of training experience with simple yogic lifestyle principles for a truly unique plan that anyone can follow.

{Just a note—Random House is not sponsoring this post and will ship the book directly to the winner. This giveaway is only available in the Continental United States.}

If you want to win the yoga kit featured in the Vlog above you must do the following (Continental United States only, please!)

Post a comment below (on this post) letting me know you are interested.

Send a comment on Twitter and say “I want to win YogaLean by @bethshawyoga from @brooklynfitchik”

Today’s playlist is a mixture of old & new songs as well as different musical genres. Back when I was first teaching classes it was my obsession to have a theme for each ride and every song had to blended seamlessly from one to the next. I had “Prince Vs Michael Jackson,” “Love Stinks,” “90s Only,” “Stadium Rock” and (wince) “Boy vs Girl” bands playlists put together that took hours to assemble.

Here is the thing with theme rides—if any of the students don’t like the theme it becomes the worst hour of their life. So now I make sure to “play the whole room.” meaning if the students are generally into hip hop, get some hip hop in there. If they like pop more than classic rock do NOT play The Eagles. If they prefer hard rock do not force Katy Perry on them.

Seems simple but it took a while for stubborn me to listen to different kinds of music including (gulp) pop which I thought I was too cool for in the past. (Turns out I am probably the biggest P!nk fan alive!)

Today, I am open to play just about anything which has made my playlist selection so much more enjoyable for both me and for my students.

Whatever you do to prepare for your classes—remember the room. Always play to the room and you will be sure to enjoy every session.

Enough of my yakking—here is my newest playlist that got me some major “thumbs up” the last few days I have used it. You’re welcome!

I Lived (Party Remix): OneRepublic

I know nothing about OneRepublic (well, except for the fact my friend Missy saw them live and said they were excellent) but their songs are becoming a favorite for me to play in class. This remix version has a fun “entering a stadium” feel to it.

Shut Up and Dance:WALK THE MOON (their name is in ALL CAPS for some reason)

This song just cracks me up because it sounds like it could be on the soundtrack for any 80s comedy film ever filmed. I mean this in a good way, by the way.

Pon de Peplay: Rhianna

Rumor has it Rhi Rhi is dating Leonardo DiCaprio and is making him work out until he gets a six-pack. I love her for this.

Lust for Life: Iggy Pop

Just about everyone in the world knows this song but do you know the story behind it? If you can stand some adult themes and cursing listen to this podcast from This American Life. It will change your life!

On the Road Again: Canned Heat

Get the long version of this song (about five minutes) and you take it for a climb. Great 60s groove happening here.

Supermassive Black Hole:Muse

The next band I hear that I MUST SEE LIVE is Muse so it is on my musical bucket list.

It’s Time: Imagine Dragons

Even my friends who are not into rock music like this band and enjoy this song in particular.

Lose Control (featuring Ciara & Fa Man S.):Missy Elliott

In my opinion the Super Bowl halftime show was all about Missy Elliott. She rocked it big time!

The Pit: Silversun Pickups

I love this song for doing some hard core sprints and because it is over four minutes long, you will feel like you really feel the burn.

Can You Read My Mind:The Killers

The Killers really know how to write good hooks and this song always motivates my students to work harder.

Bohemian Like You:The Dandy Warhols

If you are in the mood to watch an excellent documentary about rock bands going on a tour check out The Dandy Warhols inDig.

Every Breaking Wave:U2

The boys of U2 are busy getting ready for a new world tour and Bono is working on recovering from a bike accident. Hoping I get to see them live and play this tune when they head to NYC!

That’s all I have today folks. Let me know about some of your favorite songs and radio stations. I am always looking for good tunes.

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

How are you all doing? Normally I reply back “Great!” and keep the conversation but I am going to be honest with all of you. I have had serious health & behavioral issues with my cat that has caused a tremendous amount of anxiety in my life. I know how silly that sounds. “Oh, you have a sick cat? Who cares? Get over it and show her who is boss!”

But it is not that easy. My home life has been taken over by an animal that I completely adore but I am not sure I can take care of much longer.

Tennessee (T) came into my life a little over 3 years ago. She was a lost kitten found by the side of the road by a friend and I fell in love with her after seeing her in just one photo. (Yes, that adorable one above.)

She is a handful as cats go—very excitable, energetic, pushy and domineering. It’s what people either love or hate about her.

I love that she is a brat and doesn’t apologize for it. The apartment was ten times more fun the instant she showed up (though I am sure my other cat differs on this!)

A few weeks ago T had a traumatic experience in my apartment. I had left a pile of recyclables pile up in my hallway and she was playing around in them. I barely noticed when she climbed into a paper bag that was much too small for her. All of a sudden I heard a banging sound as she raced down the hallways and started shrieking for hours. T burst out of the bag thinking she was being smothered and I could not get her to calm down for the life of me.

Days later she seemed okay when all of a sudden she took to sudden bursts of anger aimed towards me. She would stalk me and hiss and snarl loudly at me—her eyes would go black. This would continue for hours with threats to swipe at my feet and attack my legs.

There is no pattern to these outbursts. She will be sweet & snugly one minute and then she her mean temper would return. She has cornered me in my office several times and will stalk back and forth between the kitchen and living room for hours.

After several days of this I finally had the Vet look her over and it was decided she will take Prozac and Xanax to help with her anxiety and trust issues. It’s only been a week but I am starting to get her medicine schedule together into a routine she seems to enjoy. I really hope this works out.

Living with her is like living with an alcoholic. I never know what I am going to expect hour to hour and can never really feel safe or happy when I am home. My whole life I have sought to have my own space where I feel safe and accepted. This problem with T has made me ignore my workouts schedule, cancel plans with friends and in general, interfered with my sanity.

My plan is to take care of T the best I can and hopefully the Prozac will help her moodiness and anxiety. If it doesn’t—it means I am going to have to re-home her. Let me say this again—I love this cat to pieces. However, I need to practice serious “self-care” as I take on her health and mind issues. My “go to” is to take on someone else’s problems and internalize them to the point it makes me ill. This is no ways to live a full life.

I will let you all know how it goes. (Think all of your good thoughts for my T and Sweet Sarah who puts up with way too much in this apartment!)

T this past holiday

Thank you for letting me vent! I just have one news item left today (below). The Vlog will return next week come hell or high water!

Book Vs Movie Podcast: We have started a new platform for the Margo & Margo podcast “Book Vs Movie” podcast and you can subscribe at this iTunes link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bookvsmovies-podcast/id954110320?mt=2. Our next episode will be High Fidelity by Nick Hornby (and the John Cusack film)—whoo hoo! We are also on Sticher radio (for all of your Android peeps) and the web site will be ready soon—promise!

(If you are reading this on a different site or a different feed than Brooklyn Fit Chick, it has been taken without permission.)

How are you all doing today? I have a whole bunch of news & notes to get you folks today and I will not waste a minute getting it to you. Don’t worry—the Vlog is back next week with a whole new giveaway!

Brooklyn Fit Chick News & Notes

Book Vs Movie Podcast: For those of you who are not familiar with it my friend Margo Porras of Shes Nacho Mama’s Blog and I co-host a podcast called “Book Vs. Movie” and you can subscribe to us on iTunes with this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bookvsmovies-podcast/id954110320?mt=2. Our newest episode was all things Gone Girl (have you heard of it?) and boy did we have fun time dissecting both the film and the novel! The player is embedded below for your listening pleasure. Hope you like it!

Fit Bottomed Girls “Power Rock Climb” Playlist: One of my favorite “jobs” (honestly, I would do it for free cuz I have so much with it!) is coming up with playlists for the Fit Bottomed gals and this week I picked my favorite “Power Rock” songs to get me in the mood to climb a million hills. Let me know what you think of it!

Fitness Magazine Goes Digital: About ten years ago I was lucky enough to be in charge of publicity for YM, Fitness and Child It was the best job in the world and I was so proud to work for all of those brands. Well I am sad to say that Fitness magazine has been folded and will now be digital-only. The publisher of the magazine (Meredith publishing) bought Shape magazine (!) and now they will combine their audience. What does this mean? If you have a subscription to Fitness magazine, starting this May you will be getting Shape magazine instead. If you already get both? I have no idea! Fitness will now exist in digital format only at www.fitnessmagazine.com. Very sorry to hear that Fitness is closing but most of the staff will not remain on digital and all of their great content can still be found online. (Whew)